The Australian outback is famous worldwide for its rugged beauty, boasting iconic and extreme landscapes, teetering from rusty red desert to lush bushland teeming with wildlife.
In short, it’s the perfect place for a spot of nature-driven tourism – or a chance to visit the set locations of 2024’s biggest blockbusters.
The first of these is the iconic Mad Max, an action-adventure franchise that’s long relied on the outback’s austere majesty to portray a post-apocalyptic, irradiated wasteland on the silver screen.
After all, where else can you find miles of flats out in the badlands for the frenzied road battles on dirt bikes, off-roaders and semi-trucks in the franchise’s latest film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga?
Apparently, mostly in New South Wales, with some filming locations returning after earlier features in the franchise. These include Broken Hill, a sunbaked outback town with a vibrant art community which makes its second appearance after 1981’s Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. Be sure to visit the Mad Max 2 Museum, along with the town’s slew of galleries, famous sculptures and museums. You might also want to check out Broken Heel Festival every September to live out your Priscilla Queen of the Desert (also filmed in the country) dreams.
Thereafter, you can head to the not-so-nearby town of Hay, a rural agricultural centre just outside of the Hay Plains, one of the world’s three flattest locations – in other words, the perfect backdrop for a stunning vehicular action sequence.
And this is just for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. As it turns out, Australia’s been having a bit of a film star moment of its own, with other action flicks like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Fall Guy also using the country as a backdrop.
The lattermost – starring Ryan Gosling as a seasoned stuntman pulled into a sinister plot more dangerous than anything he’s ever portrayed – uses the major city of Sydney as its central staging point.
It’s only natural, therefore, that some of the film’s biggest stunts are set in its most iconic landmarks. We’re talking set pieces at the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, with both locations having to be temporarily closed to make way for death-defying stunts and a high-octane car chase.
Try your own heart-pounding stunt (if you are not afraid of heights) by scaling the bridge with Burrawa Bridge Climb, or float underneath it from the harbour waters with Tribal Warrior Tours.
A trip to Burrawang Walk in Kurnell and the nearby Narrabeen Beach should also make it onto your set-jetting bucket list, as it’s a great way to get up close and personal with The Fall Guy’s coastal film locations while soaking up some rays.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and The Fall Guy are playing in Singapore theatres now.
For more Australia travel inspirations, visit www.australia.com/en-sg.
